Birgit Machnitzke, owner of Helga’s Pancake House, to contest Cairns’ Division 5 election in March

A Cairns businesswoman who once fought the state government’s vaccine mandates in court is running for council, promising she would fight to resuscitate the city’s dying CBD.

A Cairns businesswoman who once fought the state government’s vaccine mandates in court is running for council, promising she would fight to resuscitate the city’s dying CBD.

Birgit Machnitzke, a 14-year resident of Cairns, has played an influential role in several recent fights against council policy, notably the “cash is king” petition.

In 2022 she applied to Cairns Supreme Court for a judicial review of the vaccination directive delivered by the state’s chief health officer during the Covid pandemic.

Helga's Pancake House owner Birgit Machnitzke is a Division 5 candidate for the March 16 Cairns Regional Council election. Picture: Brendan Radke

She plans to bring her libertarian ideology to the Division 5 seat if elected, but stressed she is strictly independent from any party affiliation.

“I am for less regulations. We have had enough,” she said, adding that the council wasn’t following up on some of the regulations it had in place currently.

She pointed to the recent proposal to ban fishing on the Esplanade as an example of how she would solve situations “pragmatically”.

“I am more for promoting principles than strict laws,” she said.

“If someone gets hooked by a fishing rod, I would put up a sign to alert people to watch for fishers, not ban the whole activity of fishing.”

Birgit Machnitzke participated in the Cairns “Freedom Rally” during Covid and tried to fight the state government’s vaccine directives in court. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Trinity Beach resident has owned and operated Helga’s Pancake House on the corner of Grafton St and Spence St in Cairns CBD since 2020 after decades running her own eco-tourism business.

She said she wants to reverse the trend of decay in Cairns CBD.

Her most recent problem with vandals was on Sunday when a recidivist offender broke her cafe’s window.

“The CBD is going downwards. There are less and less businesses and crime is going up. Any person with their eyes open can see where it’s going,” she said.

Ms Machnitzke said she would follow-up her work everyday with hours of campaigning to make up for lost time. Picture: Brendan Radke

“After looking at the current Division 5 candidates, I did not think they would be the best advocates for the CBD.”

Nominations for councillor positions close on February 13.

Ms Machnitzke said she was going to put in the hard yards, as her competitors have already enjoyed several months of campaigning.

“I work until 2pm, then I change my shirt and start walking the streets. I’ll do that until the election. I’ll talk to as many people as possible,” she said.

All local government elections will be held on March 16.

Originally published as Birgit Machnitzke, owner of Helga’s Pancake House, to contest Cairns’ Division 5 election in March